Peter Gentenaar

e: gentor@hetnet.nlIn my artwork, my love for nature and the materials it produces and my fascination with technique are brought together.Despite my Dutch roots, a culture orientated in fine painting, I found in paper fiber, a material much closer to nature and with much more character than I ever found in paint. Starting in 1972 with my first experiments, I turned from a paper user into a paper and pulp maker and, while doing so, found endless amounts of new possibilities for shapes and forms in paper.

I did need to develop my own vacuum table and Hollander beater for long fibers, for the shrinking pulp that is necessary to make my sculptures. The drying tension, between the pulp and the bamboo, gives the material its forms.

In 8 institutes for the mentally handicapped in the Netherlands my papermaking machines are being used, and I give regular workshops for the staff.

The love for nature and its materials and my fascination with technique are brought together in my art work.

Coming out of a very painting orientated culture, I found in paper fiber a material much closer to nature and with much more character than I ever found in paint. Slowly I turned from a paper user into a paper and pulp maker and while doing so found endless amounts of new possibilities for shapes and forms in paper.